WAYNE ROONEY has revealed how he forced a move to Manchester United in 2004 despite interest from cash-rich Chelsea.
The England legend lifted the lid on his Everton departure 17 years ago and admitted it was Chelsea and not United who offered the most money for him.
The Toffees academy graduate eventually moved to Old Trafford in a blockbuster £27million deal, but he revealed Chelsea had actually come in with a higher bid under billionaire new owner Roman Abramovich.
The teenage Rooney was the subject of fervent transfer speculation back in 2004 but suggested he wanted to stay at Goodison Park.
“Before Euro 2004, I knew that I was getting touted to other teams – because Everton needed the money,” Rooney told the BBC’s ‘Tony Bellew Is Angry’ podcast.
“Certain individuals were going into other clubs saying ‘would you take Wayne Rooney for £30m?’
“I was heartbroken, I loved the club and wanted to play for Everton.
“To find that out, I was devastated. I would have left at some point, of course I would’ve, to try and better myself and go and win trophies. But I was devastated.”
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If he were to move anywhere, he wanted it to be to United under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
But with Chelsea offering the biggest payout for his signature, Rooney revealed how was forced to hand in a transfer request on a napkin in order to join the Red Devils instead.
Rooney said: “I was getting pushed to go and play for Chelsea because they offered the most money, but I said ‘you’re not dictating where I go – I want to go to Manchester United’.
“But I got told the only way you’re going to Man United is if you put a transfer request in.
“This was in Moyesy’s office. So I went into the canteen and wrote ‘I Wayne Rooney request a transfer from Everton Football Club’ on a napkin, or something!
“Walked back into Moyesy’s office and said ‘there you go’.
“I felt I got backed into a corner to a certain extent, but that’s football.”
Rooney would go on to become United’s record goalscorer and captain.
But speaking on the same podcast, the 35-year-old revealed how a furious Ferguson once jumped over a desk to confront his first skipper at the club, Roy Keane.
The pair clashed following an interview in which Keane slated the United defence.
Rooney described the surreal moment he saw his manager spring from his chair to have it out with the Irish midfield hardman.
He said: “I’ve seen Alex Ferguson jump over his desk and I was thinking ‘Wow, this is crazy!’
“He jumped over the desk and was getting held back.
“It got calmed down but the next day Roy Keane had come into training and then about 30 minutes later we saw him driving off. That’s the last we saw of him.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
